By IANS
New Delhi : Former president K.R. Narayanan’s wife Usha died here Thursday after ailing for months, doctors announced. She was 87.
“Usha Narayanan died at 5.30 p.m. at our hospital,” said Ajoy Sehgal, spokesman for the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. She is survived by her daughters Chitra and Amrita.
A Myanmar national by birth, Ma Tint Tint adopted the name Usha and became an Indian citizen after marrying Narayanan in 1951.
She was admitted to the hospital Dec 31 for blood transfusion after her haemoglobin level dropped drastically.
She has been ailing for months and had developed multiple health problems, a friend of the family said. Usha was in the intensive care unit (ICU) and was on ventilator support for the last few days.
“The last rites will be performed at 4 p.m. Friday,” said Rajan, her personal secretary.
Hospital director B.K. Rao said in a statement: “Those who wish to pay last respects (to her) may do so Friday at 3 p.m. at the Church of Redemption, Church Lane of South Avenue.”
Journalist-turned-diplomat-turned politician K.R. Narayanan, who died in November 2005, was the first Dalit president of India. He was the head of state from July 25, 1997 to July 25, 2002.